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Date : between 1783 and 1784
Material : Oil on canvas
| Item 6 on 8
European Painting
Painting
Area related
England
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| Description |  |
In Homer's "Odyssey", Penelope spends many years awaiting the return of her husband, Odysseus, from the Trojan War. Though faithful, she is beset by suitors who claim that he has been shipwrecked. She promises to marry one of them after she completes a tapestry for her father-in-law. Wright's painting depicts Penelope at night unraveling the day's work, a strategy that enables her to remain loyal to her husband. In the foreground, a statue of Odysseus evokes his presence.
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